Behavioral Health and Psychosocial Aspects of Disability Flashcards

What is the primary purpose of an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) in the context of disability management?

Answer: To provide confidential counseling and support services addressing behavioral health issues affecting work performance

EAPs provide confidential, short-term counseling and referral services for employees dealing with personal or work-related problems — including mental health, substance abuse, and stress — that impact their functioning and may contribute to disability.

A disability management specialist identifies that a claimant has co-occurring depression and a musculoskeletal injury. What approach is MOST effective for this situation?

Answer: Implement an integrated care model addressing both conditions simultaneously

An integrated care model that addresses both the physical and mental health conditions concurrently produces better outcomes, as untreated depression significantly impairs physical rehabilitation and return-to-work.

Secondary gain in disability management refers to which concept?

Answer: Tangible or intangible benefits a claimant derives from maintaining disability status, which may impede recovery

Secondary gain refers to non-medical benefits — such as financial compensation, avoidance of unpleasant work, or increased attention and sympathy — that can inadvertently reinforce illness behavior and slow recovery.

The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) requires that mental health and substance use disorder benefits be comparable to which type of benefits?

Answer: Medical and surgical benefits covered under the same health plan

The MHPAEA mandates that mental health and substance use disorder benefits be no more restrictive than medical and surgical benefits offered in the same health plan, addressing historical disparities in coverage.

Which motivational interviewing principle is MOST applicable when a disability manager works with a claimant who is ambivalent about participating in a rehabilitation program?

Answer: Exploring and resolving the claimant's ambivalence through empathetic, non-judgmental dialogue

Motivational interviewing uses empathetic, non-confrontational dialogue to help individuals explore their own ambivalence and find internal motivation for change, making it highly effective with reluctant rehabilitation participants.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in injured workers most commonly results in which combination of disability management challenges?

Answer: Prolonged disability, workplace phobia, and impaired treatment adherence

PTSD following a workplace injury often creates prolonged disability through hyperarousal, avoidance of injury-related stimuli (including the workplace), concentration difficulties, and poor treatment adherence.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is used in disability management primarily to address which factor affecting return-to-work?

Answer: Maladaptive thought patterns and beliefs that perpetuate disability behavior

CBT targets maladaptive cognitions — such as catastrophizing, fear-avoidance beliefs, and low self-efficacy — that reinforce disability behavior, replacing them with adaptive coping thoughts that support rehabilitation and return to work.